Toothbrush holder



Dec. 22,1925. 1,566,889

E. F. LUNDGREN TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Filed August 5. 1923 avwentoz [mesf lunafgren.

Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST F. LUNDGBEN, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TOOTHIBRUSI-I HOLDER.

Application filed August 3, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST F. LUNoonEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Toothbrush Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tooth brush holders and pertains more particularly to a holder adapted to maintain the brush in" clean and sanitary condition when not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a holder which will completely enclose the brush and to provide a closure for the same which may be operated by the brush as it is inserted or withdrawn from the holder without soiling the brush.

Other objects and advantages of the 1nvention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation,

Figure 2 is a side elevation,

Figures 3 and 4c are bottom views showing the blades in closed and open position,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation.

Referring to the drawings, the device may comprise a pair of cylindrical bands 1 and 2 connected and held in spaced relation at their rear by a bracket 3 and at the front by a connecting piece 4, said bracket and connecting piece being secured to the bands in any suitable manner.

The lower cylindrical band 2 may be slotted on two sides to receive a pair of blades 5 and 6 which may be conveniently pivoted on a rod 7 having one end fixed in the band member and the other end projecting upwardly through the bracket 3. The blades may be normally urged toward closed position by a spring 8 which may be fixed to the band member at approximately its center so that its ends may engage a movable portion of each of the blade members.

The blades are cut away as shown to provide an opening into which a tooth brush may be pressed in order that the edges of the back of the brush may engage the inside edges of the blades to force them apart against the pressure of the spring 8. As the blades are thus forced apart, an opening is effected between them which is sufficiently Serial N0. 655,445.

wide to allow flee passage of the bristles of the brush without touching.

As will be observed, the blades in opening and closing slide in the slots before described vided at its lower edge with a guide channel 9, preferably formed integrally therewith which may be used to guide the brush to the opening in the blades.

The cylindrical member 1 may be provided with a cap 11 which may beheld in closed position by a coil spring 12. Between the two cylindrical members 1 and 2, and held in place by them, is secured a cylinder 13, preferably of glass, to protect the brush when placed in the holder. The cap 11 is so arranged that when lifted the cylinder 13 may be slid upwardly through the band 1 and thus removed for cleaning.

If desired, the device may be hung from a suitable support, in which case the bracle et 3 may be bent outwardly and provided with a cut-out tongue 14: which may engage the upper side of a bracket 15. The lower side of the bracket 15 may be pro vided with a cut-out tongue 16 which engages the inner face of the bracket 3. The tongue 16 is preferably cut sidewise to engage the side of the bracket 3 in order that when the brush is inserted, as hereinafter explained, and an upward push is imparted to the holder, the holder will be prevented from riding up and disengaging itself from the bracket 15.

W hen using the device, the tooth brush to be inserted may be guided toward the opening by the guide channel 9. lVhen inserted sufficiently, the back of the brush in which the bristles are fastened will engage the inside edges of the blades at the opening and force the blades apart against the tension of the spring, allowing the brush to enter the holder without having touched the bristles. When the brush has been inserted sufliciently so that the constricted portion of the-handle is opposite the blades, the blades will close under the tension of the spring, preventing the entrance of dust and dirt to the holder.

If, for any reason, the blades should fail to open, or the brush should become stuck inside the holder, the blades may be 0perated by the projecting lugs to release it.

It will be observed that the device provides'a thoroughly sanitary receptacle which protects the brush from dust and dirt when not in use. It will also be apparent that while the brush is completely enclosed within the holder, no part touches the holder in effecting an entrance except the outer edges of the back which engage the blades to separate them. Sufiicient air may enter through the opening in the blades, to keep the air within the holder fresh.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiment shown for purposes of illustration, but that on the contrary it may be variously modified within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

7 1. A tooth brush holder comprising an elongated cylindrical casing closed at one end and provided with a plurality of slots in, its side walls, and a plurality of blades mounted on said casing to form a closure for the other end thereof, and adapted to slide laterally in said slots upon insertion of a brush in said casing, said blades being cut away to permit a tooth brush handle to engage the inner edges thereof to separate the blades, the Walls of said slots serving to support said blades to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and spring means acting on said blades to urge them toward closed position.

2. A tooth brush holder comprising an elongated cylindrical casing closed at one end, and a plurality of spring pressed blades pivotally mounted on said casing to form a closure for the other end thereof, said blades being cut away sufliciently to permit the brush handle to engage the inner edges thereof to separate the blades and to permit insertion of a brush without touching the bristles.

3. A tooth brush holder comprising an elongated cylindrical casing closed at one end, and a plurality of blades pivoted to said casinoto form a closure for the other end thereof, said blades being cut away to permit the brush handle to engage the inner edges thereof to separate the blades, and a guide member mounted on said casing to guide the brush to theopening formed by said cut-away portions.

In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my name to this specification this 31st day of July, 1923.

ERNEST r. LUNDGR-EN. 

